Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Investigators search the neighborhood near the scene of Apalachin home invasion and homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019. Kate Collins, Kate Collins/Press & Sun-Bulletin

Nearby, Tioga Hills Elementary School was closed Thursday. Vestal Central School District spokeswoman Regina Felice said the district was notified of the ongoing police investigation near the school.

Shortall said closing the elementary school was a decision left to the district superintendent, out of "an abundance of caution," but police didn't believe the school, students or staff were in danger, nor did they think the suspect fled to the school.

Other district schools remained open.

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New York State Police Major Brian Shortall discusses fatal home invasion in Apalachin May 9, 2019.
Anthony Borrelli, pressconnects.com

The entry to Dorothy Road off West Glann Road in the Tioga Terrace development was blocked by crime scene tape for much of Thursday, with roughly a half-dozen police vehicles parked along the residential street.

Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin arrived at the scene Thursday morning to assist investigators with securing a search warrant.

One man was killed in a home invasion Thursday, May 9, 2019, at 5 Dorothy Road in Apalachin.(Photo: Provided)

Across from Tioga Hills Elementary, a New York State Police Special Response Team joined troopers to search a wooded area behind several houses. A K-9 unit also scoured the surrounding neighborhood.

Around 2:30 p.m., Vestal schools released an updated statement: "The District has been working with the Vestal Police Department throughout the day, and upon their advice, there is no reason for schools to remain in restricted access or to change schedules. Based on this information, all afternoon bus runs will proceed as normal and after school activities will remain on schedule."

About two hours earlier, Jeffrey Ahearn, the Vestal superintendent, sent a voice message to district parents and said law enforcement had informed the district all parties related to the incident were taken into custody. Shortly afterward, the state police released a statement saying they were still looking for a "person of interest."